Container closure



A ril 10, 1962 GRONEMEYER CONTAINER CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 4, 1959 INVENTOR.

ERICH GRONEMEYER WwvUAw u ATTORNEY This invention relates to a closure for a dispensing container. The closure is of particular advantage, although it is not limited thereto, when employed with a container of the collapsible tube type.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 771,064, filed October 31, 1958, now abandoned.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a closure which allows dispensing of the material in the container while the closure remains on the container.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a closure of the type indicated which is easy to manipulate, and may be opened and closed quickly.

A still further object is the provision of a closure for a dispensing type container which prevents waste of the material being dispensed and which prevents the deposition of any appreciable amount of such material on any of the outer surfaces of the closure and/ or container. Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a closure having parts which may conveniently be made by being molded of plastic material.

Still other objects of the invention are the provision of a container-attached closure in which the movable element thereof is selectively stopped in open and closed position, wherein the stop means for the movable element is protected against breakage should an undue torque be applied thereto, and which protects the inside of the neck of the container to which it is attached from corrosive attack by the contents of the container.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

in the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a conminer of the collapsible tube type having a closure made in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention attached to the neck thereof, the closure being shown in open position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical axial section through the neck of the container and the closure attached thereto. the section being taken generally along line 22 of FIGS. 1 and 3;

PEG. 3 is a view in plan of the closure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the parts of the open closure being shown in full lines, the positions of the parts in successive partially closed and fully closed positions being indicated by dot and dash lines;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in vertical axial section, and on a smaller scale than FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, of the parts of the closure shown in such figures;

FIG. 5 is a view in transverse section, and on a smaller scale, through the closure shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the section being taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2, the closure being shown in open position, the relative positions of the closure orifices being indicated in phantom lines;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but with-the parts of the closure being shown in closed position, the relative ice positions of the closure orifices being indicated in phantom lines;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 7 of a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Three embodiments of container closure are shown herein by way of illustration. The first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1-6, inclusive, the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 7, and the third embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. The second and third embodiments differ from the first embodiment in the manner by which the inner and outer hoods thereof are retained on the container neck with their mating surfaces in sealing contact. In the first embodiment, the outer hood member has direct turning engagement with the radially outer portion of the container neck. In the second and third embodiments, the inner hood member of the closure is snapped into and onto, respectively, the integral neck of the container, and the inner and outer hood members have direct engagement with each other at a lower zone whereby to maintain the inner and outer hood members in sealing contact.

The closure of the first illustrative embodiment of the invention, generally designated by the reference character 19, is shown associated with a container, generally desig nated 12. The container in the first embodiment shown and described is of the collapsible tube type, and in such embodiment is made of a soft metal such as aluminum, zinc, tin, and the like, with which the closure of the invention displays its maximum advantages. It is to be X-' prcssly understood, however, that the closure of the invention may be employed to advantage with other types of containers, including collapsible tubes made of other materials.

In the container and closure assembly shown in FIGS.

1-6, inclusive, shown, the container 12 has a circular cylindrical neck portion 11 rising centrally from a frustoconical shoulder 13 which is integral with a thin flexible side wall portion fragmentarily shown in FIG. 1. Neck portion 11 forms the radially outer portion of a neck of the container made up of the portion 11 and a skirt 17 which forms the lower part of the main body portion of the inner member 14 of the closure, to be described. Member 14 is made of a suitable elastic plastic material such as polyethylene. The second, outer portion of the closure, generally designated 15, which likewise is made of a suitable elastic plastic such as polyethylene, istelescoped over neck-forming portions 11 and 17 and is socured to the container neck against removal therefrom. Generally, the closure may be selectively placed in open position by turning member 15 in one direction relative to the container neck, and in closed position by turning member 15 in the reverse direction. It is advantageous in some instances, as here, to make the radially inner portion 17 of the neck as an insert. This not only provides for the protection of metal neck portion 11 from corrosion by the contents of the container, when member 17 is made of a suitable plastic material, but also provides for the protection of the closure stop mechanism from damage upon being subjected to undue torque. It is to be understood, however, that in accord* ance with the broader aspects of the invention the radially inner and outer portions of the container neck may be made as an integral piece.

The radially outer portion 11 of the neck has a ci-rcular cylindrical inner surface 16. The lower end of the inner closure member 14 is provided by the abovedescribed skint 17 which has a relaxed or unstressed diameter such that it may be telescoped within and firmly engage neck portion 11. The diameter of inner surface 16 and the diameter of the outer surface 18' of the skirt 17 in unstressed condition are so chosen that they engage each other with a predetermined frictional force, whereby a predetermined torque must be applied to element 14 before it turns with respect to neck portion 11.

Preferably, as shown, skirt 17 has an axial length such that the bottom edge 19 thereof lies generally at the level of the junction between neck portion 11 and shoulder 13. With such construction, the skirt covers and protects the inner surface of neck portion 11, thus preventing its corrosion by the contents of the container. This overcomes difiiculties heretofore experienced in cases wherein collapsible metal tubes have been used for holding corrosive media such as fluoride-containing toothpaste. To protect metal tubes against attack by the fluoride, their inner surfaces have been sprayed with a lacqucr as by means of a spray gun directed into the then open lower end of the tube. Coverage of the inner surface of the tube by the lacquer with such procedure is apt to be spotty and discontinuous at the neck. With the present invention, however, skirt 17 covers substantially all of the inner surface of the metal neck portion, and thus prevents its corrosion and the consequent discoloration of the contents of the tube.

The inner closure element 14 is supported on neck portion 11 by the peripheral flange 20 on portion 14, the lower surface of the flange engaging the upper annular surface 21 on the end of neck portion 11. Above flange 20, the side wall of element 14 is of circular cylindrical configuration for an-appreciable distance, such side wall terminating in a conical hood 22 disposed coaxial of the skirt 17 and the upper side wall of element 14. Displaced from the axis of hood 22, there is a somewhat peripherally elongated scallop-shaped dispensing opening 24 in the hood 22.

The outer closure element 15 has its upper end in the form of a hood 25 which is coaxial of and of the same apex angle as hood 22. The upper outer surface 23 of hood 22 and the lower inner surface 33 of hood 25 are accurately formed so as to have sealing engagement with each other when the two hoods are axially thrust together. Below the lower edge of hood 25 element 15 has a circular cylindrical side wall portion 26, portion 26 being joined by an outwardly directed flange to a lower side wall portion 27 of larger diameter. Side wall portion 27 is knurled, as indicated at 28, to allow element 15 readily to be turned by the fingers. Hood 25 is provided with a dispensing opening 30 which is generally of the same size and configuration as opening 24 in hood 22 and is similarly displaced from the axis of the closure. The outer edges, particularly at the side and central edges of opening 25, are flared at 30 to provide broad dispensing lips. Preferaby the central edge 32 of opening 29 overhangs by at least a slight degree the central edge 31 of opening 24 when the two openings are in the aligned, dispensing position of FIG. 2.

The inner surface 34 of side wall portion 26 of element 15 preferably has a diameter somewhat exceeding that of the outer surface 35 of the upper side wall portion of element 14. The inner diameter of lower side wall portion 27 of element 15 appreciably exceeds the outer diameter of flange 20, and somewhat exceeds the outer diameter of neck portion 11. Side wall portion 27 carries on its inner surface a peripherally extending generally V-shaped rib 37 which is received within a peripherally extending V-shaped groove 39. The upper surface 45 of groove 39 forms a shoulder which engages the upper surface of rib 37 so as constantly to maintain the upper side wall portion of element 14 in axial compression and the side wall portion of element 15 above rib 37 in axial tension. As a result, surfaces 23 and 33 of hoods 22 and 25 are constantly maintained in forcible sealing engagement.

By way of illustration there are given below the salient dimensions of the parts of a typical closure made in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention and of a neck portion of a container to which it is attached. It will be understood that such dimensions are not limiting, and that they may be appreciably varied in attaining the various objects of the invention. In such illustrative embodiment the container neck is made of a metal such as aluminum, and closure elements 14 and 15 are made of a flexible resilient plastic material such as polyethylene.

in such embodiment the outer diameter of neck portion 11 is .627 inch. The upper surface or shoulder 45 of V-shaped groove 39 is disposed at an angle of 45 with respect to the axis of the neck; the lower surface 46 of such groove is disposed at an angle of 30 with respect to such axis. Surfaces 23 and 33 of hoods 22 and 25, respectively, have an apex angle of The inner surface 16 of neck portion 11 has a diameter of .562 plus or minus .004 inch. The relaxed or unstressed diameter of outer surface 18 of skirt 17 is .562 in. The upper and lower surfaces 42 and 44, respectively, of rib 37 both lie at an angle of 45 with respect to the axis of the closure. The inner edge of rib 37 is, in effect, terminated at a narrow annular vertically disposed land, as shown. The rib 3'7 and the groove 39 are so positioned that when elements 14 and 15 are assembled as shown in FIG. 2 the central horizontal plane of rib 37 lies somewhat above the central horizontal plane of groove 39. The radial depth and height of groove 39 and rib 37, respectively, are such that, when the parts are assembled as shown, the upper surfaces 42 and 4-5 of the rib and groove, respectively, are in contact, the apex of the rib is spaced radially from the root of the groove, the lower surfaces 44 and 46 are appreciably spaced from each other, and the side wall portion 27 of element 15 is expanded somewhat from its relaxed or unstressed diameter. As a result, the upper surfaces 42 and 45 of the rib and groove, respectively, constantly coact to produce an axial force of substantial value urging surfaces 23 and 33 of the hoods together.

The closure of the first illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a further feature thereof, means selectively to stop element 15 in its open and closed positions, and further includes means whereby the stop means is protected from damage by the imposition of an undue torque to element 15. Integrally secured to the upper edge of flange 20 at diametrically opposed locations are radially directed stop shoulders 40 and 40. Projecting from the upper portion of the inner side wall of portion 27 of element 25 are two radially inwardly projecting shoulders 41 and 41, which radially overlap shoulders 40 and 40. The respective sets of stop shoulders are so located relative to dispensing apertures 24 and 29 that stop shoulders 42'} and 40' contact shoulders 41 and 41', respectively, when the closure is open (FIG. 5). When element 15 has been turned to a position somewhat beyond the position at which it is first closed, shoulders 40 and 40' will contact shoulders 41 and 41, respectively, as shown in FIG. 6.

The frictional engagement between surfaces 16 and 18 of members 11 and 17, respectively, and between the lower surface of flange 20 and the upper end surface of neck portion 11, allows inner element 14 to turn with respect to portion 11 of the neck when it is subjected to a predetermined, critical torque. In accordance with the invention, parts 11 and 17 have such unstressed dimensions relative to each other, and flange 20 engages the end of neck portion 11 before the stop shoulders are subjected to stresses which would cause them to break. It will be understood that the value of the critical torque may be made to have a desired value by a suitable choice of the value of the relaxed diameter of surface 18 of element 14 relative to the diameter of surface 16 of neck portion 11. FIG. 6 shows element 14 as having been turned a small amount by the application of an undue torque thereto, from the position it had in FIG. 5.

The frictional engagement between the parts of the closure is such as to retain it stably in closed, fully open, or partially open position, as desired. The closure allows the size of the stream of material dispensed therethrough to be readily adjusted, and such adjustment will be retained until the closure is turned to closed position.

The assemblying of the closure on the container is a simple operation, and may be carried out by automatic mechanism while the tube 12 is mounted on a suitable fixture. Skirt 17 of element 14 is first telescoped within neck portion 11 of the tube until flange 20 abuts the outer end of neck portion 11. Following this, element 15 is telescoped over the assembled neck portion 1.1 and closure member 14 and is thrust downwardly until rib 37 snaps into groove 39. The closure member is now complete, and the tube 12 may thereafter be filled and closed in a conventional manner.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8 the same reference characters are employed as those in FIG. 2 to designate the same elements. Where the parts are generally similar to those of FIG. 2 but differ in detail, they are designated by the same character with an added prime in FIG. 7 and with an added double prime in FIG. 8. The embodiments of both FIGS. 7 and 8 differ from that of FIGS. 1-6, inclusive, in that in the latter embodiments hood-tensioning engagement takes place directly between the two hood members, whereas in the first embodiment the outer hood member is tensioned by its engagement with the outer portion of the neck, such portion of the neck in turn engaging the inner hood member to maintain it under compression. In some instances the construction of the latter two embodiments is to be preferred, because it is somewhat easier to maintain close tolerances in the dimensions of the hood members, if they are molded, than it is to maintain close tolerances in the size and positioning of the annular groove or other formation on the radially outer portion of the container neck employed to mount and tension the outer hood member in FIGS. l-6, inclusive.

Turning now to the closure 10 of FIG. 7, it will be seen that the radially outer neck portion 11, integral with the conical metal shoulder 13 of the container, has an inwardly directed bead or rib 50 which has a conical upper surface 51 and a shouldered lower surface 52. The inner hood member has an outwardly directed bead or rib 53 on the lower end of its skirt 17'. The upper edge 58 and the lower edge of rib 53 are frusto-conical, the lower edge facilitating entry of the skirt into neck portion 11' and the upper edge cooperating with shoulder 52 on rib 50 to maintain the inner hood member snugly within portion 11' with flange 20 lying on top of portion 11.

An annular, outwardly projecting, formation in the form of a flange 20 on skirt 17' projects somewhat outwardly beyond the upper edge of such skirt, and at the lower outer edge 59 thereof forms a shoulder which serves as the zone of attachment on the inner hood member of the two hood members together. The outer hood member has an inwardly directed bead or rib 54 which projects into the annular space 55 between neck portion 11' and skirt 27. Rib 54 has a frusto-conical lower surface 56 and a frusto-conical upper surface 57. Rib 54 is so located that when the two hood members are in assembled operative engagement, as shown, the lower edge 59 of flange 20 engages surface 57 somewhat below the upper edge of such surface, thereby constantly maintaining the hoods of the inner and outer hood members in sealing engagement. The rib 54 is of such radial height that the outer hood member may be forced downwardly over the inner 'hood member during assembly of the closure, the skirt 27' of the outer hood member momentarily locally expanding during such operation, following which it returns to a diameter slightly in excess of its fully relaxed diameter. 7

-In FIG. 8 the neck portion 11" has an annular V- groove 64 around its outer surface, groove 64 having an upper surface 63 forming a shoulder. Skirt 17" has an annular, outwardly projecting, formation thereon including a flange 60 overlying the upper end surface of neck portion 6 11" and an outer skirt 61 which depends from the outer edge or" flange 60. An inwardly facing V-rib or bead 62 on the lower inner surface of skirt 61 interfits with groove 64 as shown, the upper surface of the ribengaging upper surface 63 of the groove. The rib and groove are of such size and shape, and are so spaced relative to each other, that the flange 69 is constantly maintained resiliently urged downwardly against the upper end surface of neck portion 11".

The inner and outer hood members are maintained in sealing relationship by engagement between the lower outer edge 69 of skirt 61 and an inwardly directed annular rib or bead 65 on skirt 27 of the outer hood member 15". Rib 65 has frusto-conical upper and lower surfaces 66 and 67, respectively, the latter facilitating assembly of the outer hood'rnember upon the inner hood member, and the former coacting with edge 69 to maintain the inner and outer hood members resiliently in sealing contact, in the same manner as edge 59 and rib 54 in the embodiment of FIG. 7.

In the embodiments of both FIGS. 7 and 8 the inserts are mounted for turning with respect to the neck of the container should undue torque be applied to the outer hood member after it has been turned to either fully opened or fully closed position. This result is obtained, as in the first described embodiment, by suitably dimensioning the insert relative to the container neck. Turning of the insert by the outer hood member is effected by engagement between interfering shoulders or abutments 40, 41 on the insert and outer hood member, respectively.

Although only three embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be expressly understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and the like, as well as the suggested manner of use of the closure of the invention, may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container, a cylindrical hollow neck, said neck being composed of a first, lower radially outer tubular portion connected to the container and a second portion in the form of an insert having a main upright hollow cylindrical portion, said insert being made of corrosion resistant material and having the lower inner end of its main portion telescoped Within and supported by the first portion of the neck and its upper end extending above such first portion of the neck, the insert having its upper end in the form of a first hood, and a generally cup-shaped closure member positioned coaxially of the neck and having a skirt telescoped thereover, the closure member having its upper end in the form of a second hood, the upper surface of the first hood and the lower surface of the second hood being in the form of mating convex surfaces of revolution coaxial with the neck, openings in the first and second hoods eccentric of the axis of the neck and located so as to be placed in communication with each other in one position of the closure member relative to the neck, fastening means acting to secure the insert and the first portion of the neck together and to tether the closure member to the neck while allowing rotation of the closure member with respect to the neck between the open and closed positions of the closure member, said fastening means being so constructedand arranged as constantly to maintain the mating surfaces of the hoods in forcible sealing contact under resilient pressure, at least a part of the said resilient pressure being supplied by elastic axial deformation of said second portion of the neck, the insert having a predetermined forcible but yieldable frictional engagement with the first portion of the neck, radially overlapping shoulders on the neck and closure member selectively to stop the closure member in its opened and closed positions with respect to the insert, whereby when the closure mem- 7 her is turned in either direction past that in which the shoulders are in engagement the insert will turn therewith with respect to the first, lower radially outer tubular portion of the neck to prevent the engaging shoulders from injury.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure member has a downwardly extending skirt which is telescoped over the first portion of the neck, and wherein the said fastening means comprises a peripherally extending rib on one of the first portions of the neck and the skirt on the closure member and a peripherally extending groove in the other of said mem ers receiving said rib.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure member has a downwardly extending skirt telescoped over the first portion of the neck, and wherein the said fastening means comprises interengaging formations on the inner surface of the first portion of the neck and on the outer surface of the lower end portion of the insert, the flange on the insert projects radially beyond the upper end surface of the first portion of the neck, and wherein the said fastening means further comprises a peripherally extending rib projecting radially inwardly from the inner surface of the skirt on the closure member, said rib being engaged beneath the radially outer lower surface of the flange on the insert which projects radially beyond the first portion of the neck.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert has a downwardly extending skirt telescoped over the upper end of the first portion of the neck, wherein tl": fastening means comprises interengaging formations on the outer surface of the first portion of the neck and on the inner surface of the skirt of the insert, wherein the outer closure member has a downwardly extending peripheral skirt telescoped over the skirt on the insert and the lower end portion of the first portion of the neck, and wherein the said fastening means further comprises interengaging peripherally extending formations on the lower end of the skirt on the insert and on the inner surface of the skirt on the outer closure member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,056,005 Fleisch Sept. 29, 1936 2,717,727 Robb Sept. 13, 1955 2,765,954 Wohlbier Oct. 9, 1956 2,895,656 Stagmeier July 22, 1959 2,924,393 Robert Feb. 9, 1960 2,943,771 Driscoll July 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 749,975 Great Britain June 6, 1956 1,204,842 France Aug. 10, 1959 

